The Knight News Challenge:How it works, what succeeds, and why that

matters for the shaping of journalism innovation

Seth C. LewisSchool of Journalism & Mass Communication

University of Minnesota – Twin Cities@SethCLewis

International Symposium on Online Journalism; Austin, TX; April 2, 2011

the contest …and its content

RQ1:

relationship between proposal features and advancing?

RQ2:

participatory media features and advancing in the contest?

methods

profile of ‘08-09 proposals

Type Number PercentageApplicants 4,369 89%Finalists 535 11%Winners 25 less than 1%Total 4,929

profile of ‘08-09 proposals

- 54% organizations (vs. individuals)- 2% newspapers- 64% were not media/journalists

major predictors of advancing (or not)

major predictors of advancing (or not)

major predictors of advancing (or not)

major predictors of advancing (or not)

major predictors of advancing (or not)

major predictors of advancing (or not)

takeaways:

news, info, techparticipation

opening boundaries

thanks.

@SethCLewis